Buying fish online a good idea?

newby wants to know ..anyone have any tips for buying fish online? or is it a bad idea?
Denise

 

There are many reputable sites online you can order fish from. What kind of fish are you looking for? The best way to find what you want to find a local breeder where you can pick out your fish and bring them home. Locah Hobbyists are also a good source for healthy fish at a good price. You can also check on aquabid. What I like to do is just click on all the fish I'm interested in or know nothing about, and find out where the seller is from. I have found local breeders this way! Another fun way is to join a local fish club if you have one. A lot of the clubs have swaps at the end of their meetings.

Ordering online is fine though. It's just expensive to have the fish shipped, and a gamble because the fish may not arrive alive. If you can find a local breeder, you are much better off, plus you see what you are buying when you fork over your hard earned cash. Let us know what fish you are interested in, and we can direct you to some good sites. liveaquaria is one that I have read a lot of folks have ordered fish from with mixed results. They are a bit pricey on a lot of their fish, but I've never heard anyone say they had a bad experience with them by getting DOA's.

 

Well every one of my Betta Babies was shipped in from New York (Marty & Noel), Florida (Alex), Texas (Misty), and California (Emma, Jasmyn and Sara). I bought my Otos and Snails locally and they are fine too.

The Bettas came mostly during the worst weather known to man (blizzards, heat, and sub zero temperatures) and made it to my doors a little cool but with careful and slow warming came out of it well ( and they were shipped packed with good insulation and heat packs when appropriate)

Some of the breeders charged very high shipping and some were very reasonable. Some of the Bettas were very expensive and some were no more expensive than the ones in the LFS or the dreaded W*****rt. It depends most definitely on what you are looking for and what you are willing to accept and I would suggest getting references from someone who has dealt with the breeder before buying from anyone. There is another possibliity. If you buy from eBay the breeders are rated by the people they have sold to and you can go to their feedback and look to see what the record of their sales have been. All of my darlings have come from eBay sales. If you are looking for a Betta sale though, I would be more than glad to recommend the best betta salesman in the US to anyone.

Rose

 

well, since I can't seem to keep the tank and fish I already have healthy, I'm not going to buy anything yet...very discouraged...
but I will not give up. Someday (hopefully before I kill my fish) I will get my 20 gallon cycled and KEEP it cycled, and my fish won't have ich or velvet, or whatever is wrong with them, and I will have the 90g up and running and cycled. Someday I will want to buy a cool fish like a blue ram or a betta or a rainbow or angel or...lol...anyway, I just wondered where to look and how it worked...I have learned one thing so far...better to ask questions and do research on anything/everything BEFORE I buy anything else. Also, I don't want any of the fish at my W***mart. They are pathetic. Very sad. And the Petsmart near me has some floating fish in the tanks as well as a poor selection. I'm a beginner at the computer too, so I didn't know much about Ebay, etc..in fact ya'll are the first forum I've ever been in, and I got my first pm here the other day! (very exciting! ;D) thanks for your tips!
Denise

 

I wanted to say something about a couple of the vendors I have dealt with on eBay and off.  These are great people to deal with and only send quality items/fish.

The first is where I buy most of the non-fish items now as he is not shipping many fish although he has in the past.  Marty came from there and he will still ship but only during warm weather.  He does send lovely totally snail-free plants and has some items on eBay once in a while that are collector's items from days gone by before modern fishkeeping happened.  (interesting stuff, not junk)  His store on eBay is under:
mikeswetpets.

Then there is the very best online, quality fish vendor that I have found.  They sell through Aquabid and eBay and on their own site.  They do not deal in large volume and you can let them know what you are after and they will try to find it.  I got Alexander there and of all the fish I have gotten online, he is without a doubt the healthiest and most beautiful fish I own.  Not that I love my others less, but qualtiy wise, he has the others beat and a lot of it I am convinced is because these people know what they are doing and know how to care for their fish and choose only the best fish to offer to other people who care as well.  They want to know when the fish arrive and how they made the trip and how you feel about it.  Most vendors are just happy NOT to hear from you because that means the fish came and was alive.  Just so long as they don't have to return your money or replace the fish they could care less.  Not so here.  You get the caring attitude of people who know the fish they sell and want them to do well.  I communicated with them about a website problem not long ago and they wanted to see pictures of Alex.  Now that is a request to warm the cockles of a proud mommy's heart.  Seriously though, it has been a pleasure doing business with them and they do make you FEEL like they love the fish and the fish show that they are super well cared for while under their protection.  I think I have found my fish store.     Their eBay store is: miamiaquariums.  I have not visited the site on Aquabid but the website is:

Just one person's opinion.

Rose

 

thanks Gunnie and Chickadee!
denise

 

I have ordered from liveaquaria and am fairly satisfied with their service. They have a minimum order of $30 and flatrate shipping of $40. The shipping may seem expensive but you have to keep in mind that any package whether it's live fish or just a standard product that is shipped next day air will be expensive. That is why it only makes sense if you order lots of fish per order. I ordered about $100 worth of freshwater fish so each fish only ended up being a couple dollars more when factoring in the shipping costs.

Their prices are fairly average but they have lots of fish that my LFS don't carry so it worked to my advantage. I had a couple of DOA guppies but they have a DOA guarantee so it wasn't that big of a deal and I got credit for them. For the most part the fish quality is good as none of the fish had any disease and none died after being put into the tank. I wouldn't hesitate to buy again from liveaquaria if I had to set up a brand new tank and needed to stock it with quality fish.

 

thank you for the info! I've seen some great fish on that site and wondered about this particular company. What do you do in a DOA situation? Mail it back? thanks AlphaBetta!
denise

 

Most places give you so many hours after the postal service certifies that they delivered the fish to take a photo of the dead fish in the UNOPENED bag and e-mail it to them for credit (cost of fish only) or replacement. There are not that many online vendors who give the type of live gaurantee that is offered in the local fish store, that is the one drawback.

I just purchased a new betta this evening online though and have an order on a cory on eBay that I am the only bidder on so I am hoping that I get that one also.

Rose

 

ohhh..good to know! congrats on the new baby!! what color is your betta, Rose? good luck on your cory bidding! I'm still too chicken to try the auction action...I got as far as setting up an account with ebay, and...that's it! I'm such a weirdo sometimes! lol
maybe I'll move into this millenium someday! ha!
denise

 

Sterba's Cory

There is the cory I am attempting to get.

And here is the betta, his name is Sonny..... knowing me you will be seeing a lot of him.

 

WHOA!! He is a beaut!! Man, I've never seen one like that! That color and those ruffles are gorgeous!!
Sonny must've been born on one of God's Best days!
denise

Sonny was so breathtaking, I forgot to click on your cory, so I went back, and If I read it right you've won the bidding!! congrats!!
Cory is nice looking, but Sonny is SUPER!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! I'll quit screaming now! lol
best wishes, denise

 

Sterba's Cory)

There is the cory I am attempting to get.

And here is the betta, his name is Sonny..... knowing me you will be seeing a lot of him.

Rose,
Hes beautiful! wow! Miley

 

99% of the stuff I get for the tank is online. My filter, heater, sand, and salt came from ebay. I buy my livestock online as well. Just make sure you have a QT tank setup and things should work out

 

I have heard good things about these sites and their fish:

http://www.southernapistos.com/

 

I guess the best way to figure out if buying online is good or not is to try it yourself. There are billions of sites that sell a lot of aquaria. Its a huge risk but worth it f you find a resonable price.

 

I don't think I would ever do it....I don't know if its a good idea or not...I jsut wouldnt because I wouldnt want to be dissapiointed with a dead one or sick etc

 

I was wondering if anyone has experience with ordering fish from any online retailers and which ones might be recommended. I'm trying to locate an electric blue jack dempsey and looking at different variations of pleco that cannot be found at my lfs. It would be nice to be able to order just once fish without having to worry about losing any in delivery, but I'm afraid to order from just anywhere and have helpless fish sacrificed.

Any suggestions? Thanks! :;pumpkin

 

are there any local fish clubs there in Pittsburgh? The clubs can often have cichlid and pleco breeders with the species not easily found.

 

Hey guys,

I was wondering what ya'll thought about buying fish online? I have found a couple of sites that will sell fish and ship them over night. I know you are supposed to buy fish and bring them straight home because of ammonia and things. Is this too much time in a bag?

Also if anyone has purchased from a web site, was it a good experience? How where your fish? And what site was it?

Thanks guys.

 

I've never done it myself but shipping fish usually works fine. If you want to order them you might be better off if you could find another hobbiest who breeds the kind of fish you want, who could send some to you. Usually cheaper and better fish.

 

also talk to your lfs, they will usually be able to order them for you and hold them at the store until you're ready for them, if you have a big als around, they do it all the time

 

i've not ordered fish online, but do hear good things about liveaquaria

 

I'm sure most of you guys have heard of live aquaria well I was wondering if any of you have gotten fish from their if so how was their health did they come alive it is also 30 degrees outside

 

ive heard many great things about this site. I don't think the temperature matters, because its over night shipping (cant use any other way). they also hav an arrive alive gaurentee.

I'm sure someone that has used this website before will have more information

 

I have ordered live rock, but not fish from live aquaria. However, they have a great reputation, and I would not hesitate to order from them.

 

You just have to make sure someone is home to take the box. You can't leave it our on the porch at 30, for hours till someone gets home........

I buy fish on line, and drive 80 miles to the FEDEX warehouse to pick up the shipment.....there is NO fedex here in my little town. This way I can get it overnight, and am sure it is not subjected to any outside temperatures. I'm in the process right now of getting some, from a different source, I'll let you know how it turns out.....

 

Never had to! I have the pleasure of living and daytrip away from That Fish Place the outlet! coarse gettin my mom to drive me there is a different story.....

 

I do live near a petsmart and petco better know around here as Death Co but I was just thinking that I could be 100 percent sure wat I was getting is a pure strain and better quality

 

I have never ordered from Live Aquaria, but it is affiliated with Dr Foster and Smith, so am sure it is as reputable as their pet supply place, which is awesome. Their live delivery guarantee or replacement makes them risk free, I think. I would definetly order from them.

Val:;sman

 

I have ordered fish from liveaquaria and they all arrived just fine. They are shipped in plastic bags of water, placed inside a styrofoam cooler and surrounded with little heat packs to keep the water warm. All this is placed in a regular box and shipped to you.

I had only one fish die after arrival and that was a lyre tail swordtail. But, with a quick phone call to their customer service, my money was refunded right back to my debit card, no questions asked. Almost all their fish have an arrive alive guarantee and they guarantee they live for at least seven days after arrival. If the fish dies within that week, call them and they will refund your money.

The fish I received were in great health. My 2 boesmanI rainbows came from liveaquaria and they were very young when I got them, no coloration at all. My brother in law got an angelfish from there and it arrives measuring about 1.5 inches.

There customer service is very helpful and the shipping was excellent and fast.

 

That is good! Was the shipping price reasonable?

 

Lord no!!!!!!! I believe it was about a $35 minimum on shipping up to 250 dollars worth of fish, etc. So, if like me, you have a buddy that wants some fish at the same time, this works out well. But if you are just ordering a few fish for yourself, it's kind of ridiculous. However, I've never been to many other sites to see what their shipping quotes are, so it may be reasonable.

Also, they use Fed-Ex and give you a tracking number so you can follow where your package is. I'd say they seem to be the most trustworthy of the few sites I have been to, but I haven't been to many, so that's my opinion...

 

Is that just when it is winter and they have to heat or is that year round?

 

According to the site, that is year round.

 

Hi!

LiveAquaria is a very good site. I'v never bought anything from them - but I would never hesitate to! The are very reputable. Just make sure someone is home to get them!

 

just wondering has anyone ever ordered fish from an online store (like liveaquaria)? and if so, what were the fish like, were they healthy?

-thanks

 

I have ordered live rock from live aquaria, but no fish yet. I do have my eye on some fish that I never see locally, so I plan to order from them in the coming months. They have a good rep, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

ummm I have never ordered off the internet but if u live near any LFS most will let u set up an order. just make sure if u want say 2 of one type of fish that like 4 are ordered.. cuz u never know who will pass. of course make sure that's okay with the LFS. most are happy to have extra stock to sell. good luck and happy V-day!!

 

I've ordered snails/macro algae from Liveaquaria. While they were healthy when I got them, my biggest complaint would be the shipping cost. They have to send it overnight (which I get why) but that was as much as the cost of the snails and macro algae that I ordered. Not really a deal in the end except they have stuff not available locally.

As far as how they shipped everything, I was quite impressed. A styrofoam case full of styrofoam peanuts and a heat pack in it so the livestock would stay warm.